San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-30
the house since the day he threatened

10 the house since the day he threatened
me-
Everything being arranged and the
weather favorable, they went on board at
s in the morning. | was in the dingy,
carrying things backward and forward
for them, and when Dan was satisfied
that nothing had been forgotten dropped
into the little boat and sat in il watching
the Dancing Polly slip out Of the bay
and glide into the darkness, while viii
leaned over the taffrail and waved a fare
well to me.
II was nothing unusual for me TO sleep
alone in the house. There was no danger
Of robbers in so secluded a spot as Rous-
don, and there WAS always a sense OF pro.
lection in the fact Of old Isaac Agus and
his wife sleeping in the cottage hard by.
! had no fears for myself Only, some.
how, things were different now had
left off thinking Of myself and thought
all day and night Of viii. That night,
for the first time, was timid. thought
Of the little boat sailing across the black
Channel 10 the enemy's coast. CON
jured up the dangers. Bonaparte might
catch them. lie was ut BOulOgne then,
preparing for the invasion Of England
with every ship, craft, boat Of any kind
which he could collect together. The
Dancing Polly might he captured by
privatcer; they might be arrested on the
French coast; they might be wrecked
thought of every danger except the one
most likely TO happen-that they might
meet their difficulties on the return voy-
age. For the first time in my life was
afraid and while | sat before the fire con-
juring up the ghosts Of possible disasters
heard q step outside. the latch was lifted,
and J,shua Mech showed himself at the
door.
| thought he had been drinking. His
eyes were haggard and Observation-Disclosures
eyes Of his which were too close together
and too small; his face was distorted and
his fingers worked ncrvOusly together.
They are gomez he asked, sitting on
Dams settle, with sort of groan.
Eyes, ! replied, fearing he was come
for no good. They put out at 8. Now,
JoshtsI, if you have anything to say have
done with it at once and 60"
eve got this to say" he replied
hoarsely. 'I've been trying to put you
out OF my mind and | cant. Who's Mr..
Camp'on, that he's to come here and take
away my girl?'
81 lever was your girl, Joshua"
"You should have been. I'd set my
heart on it. And you shall be get. There
never was a thing that l wanted as did
not get. I've always looked to marry
"Ou and nobody but yOu and will yet"
"Will yOu?" | laughed. "Neverr'
"Don't think shall be an unkind "a
band, my prettyr' he said with sudden
change of voice and manner. II love you
too well l shall wrap you up warm and
give you nothing TO do only to make your
self happy"
"Now, Joshua" said, Ego. This is
enough fOOlishness for one night. am
going to marry Mr.. Campion. Do you
hear? | am going to be his wife"
"If you won't listen to fair words" he
said, springing to his feet, 'listen to foul
I've given you one more chance. It's
your last. viii you give up that young
pOpinjay?'
''No, will not. Cor
give warned you, he said, land I'm
desperate. Whatever happens, mind, it
will be all on your own head. Whatever
happens, you done it,"
had no suspicion, not the least shadow
OF suspicion, of what he meant. IF Josh
ua's anger made me lear anything, it was
that he might attempt some desperate
deed of personal violence. At the same
time | was dsquieted, and | lOnged for
the return of the boat.
They sailed at 8, as have said. If the
breeze continued steady, they might reach
the coast of France in the morning. Sup
posing that all went well, they would re-
ceive their cargo in few hours, and
should he back in the early morning of the
following day-say from | to 3 O'Clock,
before daybreak. But that depended en-
tirely on the wind.
What long and dreary day that was!
/, who had never before minded being
solitary, thought each hour dragged itself
along more slowly than its predecessor. /
went out in the little boat, but it was only
to strain longing eyes across the water to
see if haply l could discern the white sails
of the Dancing Polly. But there was
nothing on the ocean, and presently i
rowed languidly home again, and tried to
think out somehow the life that was be-
fore me. But that was difficult, because
did not know what lady was like.
Only in the afternoonl the whole even
ing and half the night before me yeti
went into the yard and talked to Isaac
Agus. He said the wind was favorable,
but it would freshen in the night; and
then | went back to the house, as it was
getting dark and chilly, lit the fire and sat
down before it, thinking.